Support system and mounting of camera thereon

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to a support system for mounting a wearable camera to a shirt placket, such as for the mounting of a camera to the uniform of a law enforcement officer. The support system is configured to attach to at least a first button on the placket and a second button on the placket and is configured to provide a mounting surface located between the first button and the second button. The support system may also comprise a stability-enhancing feature that provides the mounting surface with a structural integrity that is sufficient for a stable mounting of a wearable camera. The support structure of the present disclosure prevents tilting or displacement of the wearable camera, thereby ensuring that the camera remains correctly positioned to capture a representative image.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/091,172, filed on Dec. 12, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of wearable cameras has recently become more prevalent in the law enforcement field. Wearable cameras are often configured to be clipped onto a law enforcement officer's clothing, such as his or her shirt. For instance, wearable cameras are configured to be mounted onto the shoulder epaulet or the placket of a law enforcement officer's uniform shirt, typically through the use of a clip on the backside of the camera. A conventional law enforcement officer's shirt, however, was not designed for the mounting of a wearable camera in this manner. Accordingly, a wearable camera that is clipped onto the placket of a law enforcement officer's uniform shirt is often subject to displacement. For instance, under normal usage, the camera has been found to tilt forward so that it no longer captures a representative and useful image. The camera is also easily jostled and displaced, especially when the officer is engaged in physical activity such as running.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The support system of the present disclosure provides a durable surface on a shirt placket, to which a wearable camera may be securely and stably mounted in order to avoid displacement.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a support system for mounting a camera to a placket of a shirt. The support system is configured to attach to at least a first button on the placket and a second button on the placket. Once attached to the placket by way of the first and second buttons, the support system provides a mounting surface located between the first button and the second button. The support system also comprises a stability-enhancing feature, which imparts the mounting surface with a structural integrity that provides for stable mounting of a wearable camera.

For example, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a support system for mounting a camera to a placket of a shirt, the support system comprising a fabric strip having a front panel and rear panel, the front and rear panels being arranged such that the fabric strip comprises an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The support system comprises at least a first aperture that is configured to attach to a first button on the placket and a second aperture that is configured to attach to a second button on the placket. The support system is configured to attach to each of a first button and a second button on the placket to provide a mounting surface between the first button and the second button. The mounting surface is capable of supporting a wearable camera. In some embodiments, for example, the support system also comprises a stability-enhancing feature which is configured to provide the mounting surface with a structural integrity necessary for the stable mounting of a wearable camera.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are also directed to a method for mounting a wearable camera on a shirt. The method comprises attaching the support system to at least a first button and a second button on the placket of a shirt and affixing a wearable camera to the mounting surface that is provided between the first button and the second button in order to provide a stable mounting of the camera to the shirt. The wearable camera may easily be attached and removed from the support system as desired. In some embodiments, the support system may also be easily removed from and reattached to the shirt placket as desired.

The support system of the present disclosure is desirably configured such that it can accommodate wearable cameras produced by any number of manufacturers. However, modifications to the support system that render it particularly suitable for a specific wearable camera are also contemplated herein. In light of the present disclosure, such modifications would generally be understood by one of skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview or framework to understanding the nature and character of the claims. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s), and together with the description serve to explain principles and operation of the various embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A clear conception of the advantages and features of one or more embodiments will become more readily apparent by reference to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support system being attached to the placket of a law enforcement officer's uniform shirt.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support system being attached to the placket of a law enforcement officer's uniform shirt and having a wearable camera mounted thereon.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support system having a wearable camera mounted thereon.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view, partly in section, of a support system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support system comprising a stability-enhancing insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiment(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

An embodiment of the support system 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The support system 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as being attached to the placket 30 of a law enforcement officer's uniform shirt. Specifically, the support system 10 is attached to each of a first button 31 on the shirt placket 30 and a second button 32 on the shirt placket. The support system 10 provides a mounting surface 11 between the first button 31 and the second button 32. An embodiment of the support system 10 in which a wearable camera 40 is affixed to the mounting surface 11 is shown in FIG. 2.

In some embodiments, the support system 10 may be configured to be removable from the shirt placket 30. Accordingly, the support system 10 may be attached to the shirt placket 30, for example when use of a wearable camera may be required, and removed from the shirt placket, for example when a wearable camera is not needed. Because the support system 10 is easily attached to and removed from the shirt placket 30, a wearer may also position the support system 10 at any desired position on the shirt placket. For example, although FIG. 1 shows the support system 10 as being attached between a first button 31 and a second button 32 that are located at a particular position on the placket 30, a wearer could also easily position and attach the support system at a location higher or lower on the placket by using any button located higher on the placket or any button located lower on the placket one of the first and second buttons. In alternative embodiments, the support system 10 may be more permanently attached to the shirt placket 30, such as by sewing, adhesives, or the like.

Additionally, the support system 10 may be attached to a law enforcement officer's uniform shirt without any modification to the shirt itself. As such, the support system 10 of the present disclosure may be attached to a conventional uniform shirt to provide a mounting surface 11 for the stable mounting of a wearable camera 40.

An embodiment of the support system 10 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The support system 10 comprises a fabric strip comprising a front panel 12 and a rear panel 13. Together, the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13 are arranged to provide the fabric strip with an upper edge 14, a lower edge 15, a first side edge 16, and a second side edge 17.

In the illustrated embodiment, the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13 are sewn together near the periphery of the fabric strip, i.e. near each of the upper edge 14, lower edge 15, first side edge 16 and second side edge 17. In some embodiments, the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13 may be separate panels that are sewn or otherwise adhered together to form the fabric strip. Alternatively, the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13 may be more integrally formed with one another. For example, in some embodiments, the fabric strip comprising a front panel 12 and a rear panel 13 may be prepared from a single piece of fabric, which is folded along a center line, e.g. a line running between an upper edge and a lower edge of the piece of fabric, to form the fabric strip comprising front and rear panels.

The fabric strip also comprises at least a first aperture 18 and a second aperture 19. Each aperture 18, 19 is configured to fit on and be fastened to a button of a shirt. For example, each aperture 18, 19 may comprise a buttonhole, such as a three-quarter inch threaded eyelet. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first aperture 18 and the second aperture 19 extend through both of the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13. In alternative embodiments, however, the first and second apertures 18, 19 may extend only through the rear panel 13. The first aperture 18 is configured to attach to a first button 31 on a shirt placket 30. The second aperture 19 is configured to attach to a second button 32 on a shirt placket 30. The fabric strip is configured to attach to each of the first button 31 and the second button 32 on a placket of a shirt 30 and to provide a mounting surface 11 between the first button and the second button, the mounting surface being configured to stably support a wearable camera 40.

In some embodiments, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fabric strip is configured such that the first aperture 18 and the second aperture 19 may be fastened to adjacent buttons 31, 32 on a shirt placket 30. For example, in some embodiments, the distance between the first aperture 18 and the second aperture 19 may be between about two and one-half inches and about four and one-half inches, alternatively between about two and three-quarter inches and about four and one-quarter inches, alternatively between about three inches and about four inches. The distance is measured from the center of the first aperture 18 to the center of the second aperture 19. Alternatively, the fabric strip may be configured to span multiple buttons, in which case the first aperture 18 and the second aperture 19 may be spaced farther apart.

The fabric strip may have a variety of dimensions. For example, in some embodiments the fabric strip may have a width, i.e. the distance between the first side edge 16 and the second side edge 17, between about one inch and about two inches, alternatively between about one inch and about one and one-half inches. For example, in some embodiments, the width of the fabric strip may be about one and three-eighth inches. And in some embodiments, such as where the support system 10 is configured to be attached to adjacent buttons 31, 32 on a shirt placket, the fabric strip may have a length, i.e. the distance between the upper edge 14 and the lower edge 15, that is between about four inches and about six inches, alternatively between about four and one-half inches and about five and one-half inches.

In some embodiments, the support system 10 may be configured to closely resemble and mimic the placket 30 of a law enforcement officer's shirt. Accordingly, the support system 10 may be configured so that a law enforcement officer may maintain a professional appearance when the support system is attached to the shirt, even when no camera 40 is mounted thereon. For example, at least the front panel 12 of the support system 10 may be made of a material that is configured to match the material of a standard law enforcement officer's uniform shirt. In some embodiments, the rear panel 13 of the support system 10 may also be made of a material that is configured to match the material of a law enforcement officer's uniform shirt. For example, the material may comprise polyester blended with at least one of cotton, wool, or rayon. The material may also be colored in a shade of blue, tan, black, or the like that is typically used in a law enforcement officer's uniform shirt. Additionally, the support system 10 may be configured to be machine washable.

In some embodiments, the support system 10 may be configured to align with the placket 30 of a standard uniform shirt. For example, the first side edge 16 of the support system 10 may be configured to substantially align with the edge of the placket 33. By substantially align, it is meant that the alignment need not be perfect, but rather that it merely give the general visual impression of being aligned. Additionally, when the support system 10 is used on a standard shirt placket (i.e. not a seamless shirt placket), the second side edge 17 of the support system 10 may be configured to substantially align with the seam of the placket 34. Again, by substantially align, it is meant that the alignment need not be perfect, but rather that it merely give the general visual impression of being aligned. An embodiment of the support system 10 that is configured to substantially align with both the edge of the placket 33 and the seam of the placket 34 is shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In some embodiments, the fabric strip may also comprise an elastic strap 20 located on the rear panel 13. The elastic strap 20 spans at least a portion of the length of the rear panel 13 between the first aperture 18 and the second aperture 19. In some embodiments, for example, the elastic strap 20 may have a length that is between about one and one-half inches and about two and one-half inches in length. For example, the elastic strap 20 may be about two inches long. The elastic strap 20 may be made of any of a variety of materials. For example, the material may be selected from known heavy-duty and high-weight elastic materials, such as polyester, rubber, and combinations thereof. The elastic strap 20 is attached to the fabric strip, such as by sewing, at each of a first end 21 and a second end 22. The span of the elastic strap 20 between the first end 21 and the second end 22 is configured so that it can be moved away from the rear panel 13 to allow for the insertion of a portion of a mounting unit 41, such as a clip, that is associated with (e.g. integral with or affixed to) a wearable camera 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, for instance, the mounting of a wearable camera 40 onto a shirt may comprise placing a back portion of a mounting unit 41, such as a clip, between the rear panel 13 and the elastic strap 20. The elastic strap 20 may be configured to provide force or pressure against a portion of the mounting unit 41, thereby acting to hold the mounting unit 41 in a desired position on the fabric strip. As such, the elastic strap 20 may increase the stability of a wearable camera 40 mounted on the support structure 10. The elastic strap 20 may also assist with the proper positioning of the wearable camera 40 during mounting of the camera on the support structure 10. And in some embodiments, the elastic strap 20 may be configured to increase the tautness of the fabric strip, providing the mounting surface 11 with a desirable degree of tension, when the support structure 10 is attached to each of the first and second buttons 31, 32. By providing the mounting surface 11 with a desirable degree of tension, the elastic strap 20 may further increase the stability of a wearable camera 40 that is mounted on the support structure.

The support system 10 may also comprise a stability-enhancing feature 25. The stability-enhancing feature 25 is configured to provide the mounting surface 11 with a structural integrity that is sufficient for a stable mounting of a wearable camera 40.

In some embodiments, the stability-enhancing feature 25 may comprise a lining 23. The lining 23 may be located within the enclosure formed by at least a portion of the front panel 12 and a portion of the rear panel 13. For example, the lining 23 may be located between the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13 in an area between the first aperture 18 and the second aperture 19. Alternatively, the lining 23 may be located along the entire length of the fabric strip. The lining 23 may be joined to an inside surface of the front panel 12, an inside surface of the rear panel 13, or both. In some embodiments, the lining 23 may comprise either a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric. For example, the lining may be constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyester, nylon, viscose, rayon, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the stability-enhancing feature 25 may comprise an insert 24. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the insert 24 may be located within the enclosure formed by at least a portion of the front panel 12 and a portion of the rear panel 13. For example, the insert 24 may be located between the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13 in an area between the first aperture 18 and the second aperture 19. Alternatively, the insert 24 may be located along the entire length of the fabric strip. Preferably, the insert 24 is sewn into the interior of the fabric strip. In alternative embodiments, however, the insert 24 may be introduced into and removed from the fabric strip. For example, embodiments of the fabric strip may comprise a pocket into which the insert 24 may be positioned. The insert 24 may be made from any material that is capable of providing the mounting surface 11 with an increased rigidity. For example, the insert 24 may be made of plastics, metals, carbon fibers, ceramics, etc. In some embodiments, the insert 24 may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, silicone, rubber, metal, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the support system 10 may not include a stability-enhancing feature 25. For example, in some embodiments at least one (and optionally both) of the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13 may be made of a heavy duty or semi-rigid material that itself provides the mounting surface 11 with a structural integrity that is sufficient for a stable mounting of a wearable camera 40.

The support system 10 may be configured to be removably attached to a shirt placket 30. For example, a user may attach the support system 10 of any of the embodiments described above to a shirt by fastening the first and second apertures 18, 19 to at least a first button 31 and a second button 32 on a placket of a shirt 30. Once the support structure has been attached to the shirt placket 30, a user may affix the wearable camera 40 to the mounting surface 11 provided by the support structure 10 in order to stably mount the camera on the shirt.

The exact process by which the wearable camera 40 is affixed to the mounting surface 11 may vary depending on the design of the mounting unit 41 associated with the camera. For example, in some embodiments, the mounting unit 41 associated with a wearable camera 40 comprises a clip. Thus, in some embodiments, affixing a camera 40 to the mounting surface 11 may comprise inserting at least a portion of the mounting surface between two portions of a clip. Whether or not a portion of the shirt placket 30 that is adjacent to the support structure 10 is also inserted within the clip may be a matter of personal preference. In those embodiments where the fabric strip comprises an elastic strap 20, however, the back portion of the clip is preferably placed between the rear panel 13 of the fabric strip and the elastic strap 20 as previously described.

The wearable camera 40 may be removed from the shirt by operating the mounting unit 41 so as to release the wearable camera form the mounting surface 11. Where desired, the support system 10 may also easily be removed from the shirt placket 30 by unfastening it from each of the first and second buttons 31, 32. Because the support system 10 is easily fastened to a shirt and removed from a shirt, a wearer may select the exact location on the shirt placket 30 at which to provide the mounting surface 11 by selecting which buttons to use for attaching the support structure 10. In alternative embodiments, a user may permanently attach the support system to a shirt placket 30, such as by sewing or the like. In these embodiments, the mounting of a wearable camera 40 to the shirt would only require the step of affixing the camera to the mounting surface 11 provided between the first button 31 and the second button 32 in order to provide a stable mounting of the camera on the shirt. Either way, the support structure 10 may be used on existing uniform shirts, since the support system of the present disclosure does not require any modification to the shirt, itself.

It can be seen that the described embodiments provide a unique and novel support system 10 that has a number of advantages over those in the art. While there is shown and described herein certain specific structures embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A support system for mounting a camera to a shirt, the support system comprising a fabric strip having a front panel and rear panel, the front panel and rear panel being arranged to provide the fabric strip with an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge; a first aperture configured to attach to a first button; and a second aperture configured to attach to a second button; the fabric strip being configured to attach to each of a first button and a second button on a placket of a shirt and to provide a mounting surface between the first button and the second button, the mounting surface being configured to support a wearable camera.
 2. The support system of claim 1, in which the fabric strip comprises a stability-enhancing feature.
 3. The support system of claim 2, in which the stability-enhancing feature comprises a lining between at least a portion of the front panel and a portion of the rear panel.
 4. The support system of claim 3, in which the lining is selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyester, nylon, viscose, and combinations thereof.
 5. The support system of claim 2, in which the stability-enhancing feature comprises an insert.
 6. The support system of claim 4, in which the insert is selected from the group consisting of plastic, silicone, rubber, metal, and combinations thereof.
 7. The support system of claim 1, in which the fabric strip is made of a semi-rigid material.
 8. The support system of claim 1, in which the first aperture and the second aperture are configured to attach to adjacent buttons on the placket.
 9. The support system of claim 3, in which the distance between the first aperture and the second aperture is between about three inches and about four inches.
 10. The support system of claim 1, in which the first side edge is configured to substantially align with the edge of the placket.
 11. The support system of claim 10, in which the second side edge is configured to substantially align with the seam of the placket.
 12. The support system of claim 1, in which at least the front panel of the fabric strip is made of a material that is configured to match the material of the shirt.
 13. The support system of claim 1, further comprising an elastic strap located on the rear panel.
 14. The support system of claim 13, in which the elastic strap is configured to increase the tautness of the fabric strip when support structure is attached to each of the first button and the second button.
 15. The support system of claim 1, in which the support system is machine-washable.
 16. The support system of claim 1, in which the support system is configured to be removably attached to the placket without requiring any modification to the shirt.
 17. A method for mounting a wearable camera on a shirt comprising attaching the support system of claim 1 to at least a first button and a second button on the placket of the shirt, and affixing the camera to the mounting surface provided between the first button and the second button to provide a stable mounting of the camera on the shirt.
 18. The method of claim 17, in which affixing the camera to the mounting surface comprises inserting the mounting surface between two portions of a clip.
 19. The method of claim 18, in which a back portion of the clip is placed between the rear panel and an elastic strap located on the rear panel.
 20. A support system for mounting a camera to a shirt placket, the support system being configured to attach to at least a first button on the placket and a second button on the placket to provide a mounting surface that is located between the first button and the second button, the mounting surface comprising a stability-enhancing feature. 